Mandatory Immunization of Health Care Personnel Against Influenza and Other Infectious Diseases

Because healthcare personnel (HCP) work in an environment where contact with patients or infective material from patients is routine, HCP are at risk for exposure to vaccine-preventable diseases and possible transmission to patients, their families, and other HCP. Vaccination programs are therefore an essential component of infection prevention and control. Preventing health care-associated transmission of influenza and other infectious diseases can protect patients, HCP, and local communities. For this reason, IDSA supports mandatory immunization of HCP according to recommendations of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

IDSA's Efforts on the Mandatory Immunization of Health Care Personnel Against Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza

Joint policy statement of IDSA, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS) supporting universal immunization of health care personnel by health care employers as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

IDSA and SHEA conclude that the current strain of novel H1N1 has the same transmission dynamics as seasonal influenza and should be managed as such based on the currently available scientific evidence.

IDSA has endorsed the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America’s (SHEA) Position Statement: Interim Guidance on Infection Control Precautions for Novel Swine-Origin Influenza A H1N1 in Healthcare Facilities. This science-based statement supports updating CDC guidance, advocating the same practices recommended for seasonal influenza virus at this time.

IDSA supports universal immunization of health care workers (HCWs) against seasonal and pandemic influenza by health care institutions through mandatory vaccination programs as these programs are likely to be the most effective means to protect patients against the transmission of seasonal and H1N1 influenza by HCWs.

IDSA supports CDC’s draft guidance, "Prevention Strategies for Seasonal Influenza in Healthcare Settings," containing infection prevention and control measures that should be implemented in response to seasonal and H1N1 influenza, but notes the guidance should also support mandatory influenza immunization of health care workers.

IDSA, PIDS and SHEA urged the National Vaccine Advisory Committee to strengthen its draft recommendations to strongly recommend policies for mandatory influenza vaccination of all health care personnel, unless valid medical contraindications exist, as the most efficient and reliable way of achieving targeted immunization rates.